From the Guidelines
Individuals with COVID-19 should isolate for at least 5 days from symptom onset (or positive test date if asymptomatic), and can end isolation when fever-free for 24 hours without medication and symptoms are improving. After isolation, masks should be worn around others for an additional 5 days. Treatment varies by severity and risk factors. For mild cases in low-risk individuals, supportive care includes rest, hydration, and over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fever and pain. High-risk patients may qualify for antiviral medications such as nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid, 300mg/100mg twice daily for 5 days) or remdesivir (200mg IV on day 1, then 100mg daily for 2-4 days) 1. Molnupiravir (800mg twice daily for 5 days) is an alternative when other options aren't available. These antivirals work best when started within 5 days of symptom onset. Severe cases requiring hospitalization may receive oxygen therapy, dexamethasone (6mg daily for up to 10 days), and other treatments. Isolation and early treatment are crucial because SARS-CoV-2 is highly transmissible through respiratory droplets, with viral shedding highest early in infection, and appropriate treatment reduces the risk of disease progression. Some key considerations for managing COVID-19 associated infections include:
- Avoiding routine prescription of antibiotics in COVID-19 patients unless clinically justified 1
- Using empirical antibiotics to cover both typical and atypical pathogens in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) when pulmonary bacterial co-infections occur in non-critically ill patients 1
- Considering local epidemiology in the implementation of guidelines for COVID-19 associated infections 1. It's essential to prioritize the most recent and highest quality studies, such as those from 2023, to inform COVID-19 treatment and isolation guidelines 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
The FDA drug label does not answer the question.
From the Research
Isolation Guidelines for COVID-19
- Individuals with COVID-19 should isolate themselves from others to prevent the spread of the disease 2
- Isolation can be done at home or in a hospital, depending on the severity of the disease 3
- Patients with suspected COVID-19 can be triaged into different categories based on their likelihood of having the disease and their risk of a poor outcome 3
- Those with a high likelihood of COVID-19 and a high risk of a poor outcome should be prioritized for isolation in single-occupancy rooms 3
Treatment Guidelines for COVID-19
- The treatment for COVID-19 has evolved rapidly since the start of the pandemic and now consists mainly of antiviral and immunomodulatory agents 4
- Antivirals, such as remdesivir and nirmatrelvir-ritonavir, have proved to be most useful earlier in illness and for less severe disease 4
- Immunomodulatory therapies, such as dexamethasone and interleukin-6 or Janus kinase inhibitors, are most useful in severe disease or critical illness 4
- Monoclonal antibodies have also been shown to be effective in treating COVID-19, particularly in non-hospitalized patients with mild-to-moderate disease 5, 6
Public Health Strategies
- Public health strategies, such as universal face mask use, maintaining physical distance, and increasing testing, can help reduce the transmission of COVID-19 2
- Safeguarding persons most at risk for severe illness or death from infection with SARS-CoV-2, such as older adults and those with underlying health conditions, is also crucial 2
- Achieving widespread availability and high community coverage with effective COVID-19 vaccines can also help reduce the transmission of the disease 2